Watch the throne: the Kohler Numi toilet is in between these two attractive people. And the toilet is so fantastic that they've put in a place where all their neighbors can see it. Photo courtesy of Kohler.

Thinking about remodeling your bathroom in 2012? Or just replacing an out-of-date toilet? Here are four new toilet options – from expensive to economical -- worth getting excited about, or at least, worth sitting on.

1. The New Luxury
Kohler Numi
Price: $6,390 (yowza) 

  The hands-free opening system of the Numi in action. Photo courtesy of Kohler. 

We aren’t pretending anyone reading this will actually buy Kohler’s new Numi toilet. But it’s still worth marveling at. Design wise, it’s completely minimal: it looks like a white, plastic box. Feature wise, it’s completely maximal. Its amenities include a bidet function, a heated seat, a feet-warming function, hands-free opening and closing of the toilet seat, a deodorizer and built-in speakers. And a remote that controls all of these things. Check out Kohler’s Numi site to see the toilet in action (well, not the gross kind of action). You can also sign up for a sweepstakes on the site to win this opulent commode, which is probably the most realistic to get your hands (butt?) on one.

2. Sophisticated Wall Toilet
Toto Aquia Wall Hung Dual Flush (with in wall tank system)
Price: $980

 
The Toto Aquia wall hung dual-flush toilet. Photo courtesy of Toto.
 

If you’re looking for a toilet that takes up less floor space, try the new Aquia wall-hung toilet from Toto, since technically, it takes up no floor space at all. The toilet comes with an in-wall, eco-friendly, dual-flush tank. This provides two flushing options, one which uses about half as much water as the other. The toilet can be mounted between 15 and 19-inches off the ground, and best of all, the toilet tank is completely out of sight.

3. Mid-Range Modern Toilet
American Standard Studio Collection Dual-Flush Toilet
Price: $540
 
American Standard's Studio collection dual-flush toilet. Photo courtesy of American Standard.,
 

If you want a toilet that looks modern and has a water-saving flushing system, but you also want a toilet that costs less than a mortgage payment, the new dual-flush Studio collection toilet from American Standard will fit the bill. It looks distinctly different than most toilets, including the fact that its trapway is concealed. It also has “PowerWash” technology, which, according to American Standard, “scrubs bowl with each flush.” Sounds nice, although we still recommend cleaning your toilet each week.

4. Economical & Environmental
Gerber Avalanche 1.28 LS
Price: $330

The Gerber Avalanche 1.28 LS. Photo courtesy of Gerber.
 

Here’s a new toilet with a design that doesn’t rock the boat, nor a price tag that rocks your wallet like a hurricane. It’s called the Avalanche 1.28 LS, and just to be clear, it totally rocks, but in traditional, my-toilet-is-not-an-expensive-piece-of-art way. The Avalanche 1.28 LS is a water-saving toilet, even though it uses traditional, gravity flush technology. The “LS” in its name stands for “Leak Sensory,” a technology that helps eliminate toilet run-on when not in use. The “1.28” in its name is the gallon-per-flush rate. A rate of 1.28 makes this toilet an HET – a high efficiency toilet. Yes, there many abbreviations associated with the Avalanche, but they all basically say the same thing: this toilet provides plenty of bang for your buck.